The NFL trade deadline is quickly approaching, which means teams throughout the league will have to make important, difficult decisions. This will be the chance for true contenders to strengthen their rosters.
The Cleveland Browns have been overperforming according to some experts. That raises an interesting question: will they pursue certain football stars who can put them in a better position in hopes of reaching the playoffs? If they do go down that route, which stars will they chase?
Writing for ESPN, Matt Bowen and Jeremy Fowler listed the three players who the Browns could try to trade for: Yaya Diaby of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Khalil Mack of the Los Angeles Chargers, and Jermaine Johnson II of the Tennessee Titans.
As one can see, the Browns are linked to three edge rushers, which isn’t a huge surprise. Since the beginning of the season, fans have said the team could benefit from having more explosive players who can fill that role. The question is which one is the right fit for Cleveland.
Mack has been tied to the Browns for weeks now, and some people believe that he has the best chance of packing his bags and coming to Cleveland. Fortunately for the Browns, many people believe he’ll be the most affordable player on this list, especially since the Chargers will likely be willing to do business with just about anyone due to their poor track record.
Over the last three seasons, Mack has earned 14.5 sacks and 83 pressures. For his part, Diaby has acquired three sacks and six tackles for loss in 2026, and Johnson has 16 career sacks over his career.
All three of these players could provide something important and explosive for the Browns, but what matters is how much Cleveland has to pay for them. They are doing well right now, but they do not want to spend too much on a trade, especially on players who may not be a sure thing.
Additionally, the front office will only move on players who will fit into the team’s chemistry and culture and continue building the special thing Cleveland has right now.
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